You both stood at the threshold of another house, the familiar sound of your shoes tapping against the wooden floor echoing through the quiet space. Paul’s hand brushed against the doorframe as he stepped inside, his usual easygoing demeanor in full swing. He grinned at you, his blue eyes twinkling with that infectious enthusiasm he always seemed to carry, even in moments like this. House hunting, of all things, never felt so light with him.

“This one’s got potential,” he said, his voice warm, but with a slight lilt of curiosity, as he took in the expansive living room. The light from the windows cast soft shadows across the hardwood floors. There was a kind of quiet charm here — simple, yet cozy.

You nodded, walking into the room with him. “It’s got the space we need. But the backyard… could use some work.”

Paul chuckled, glancing over at the overgrown garden through the windows. “The backyard’s nothing we can’t fix up. You think you could make it look like one of those Pinterest boards?” He winked, knowing full well that you had an eye for that kind of thing.

You smiled back, feeling that familiar warmth settle in your chest. “Maybe. It’s got the bones. Just needs a little love.”

He moved around the house, checking the flow of the rooms, running his fingers across the counters in the kitchen. His voice carried from the other side of the space. “I can already imagine the weekend barbecues here,” he called out. “And the kids running around in the backyard.”

You leaned against the doorframe, watching him with a soft smile. It was hard to ignore how his presence filled the space. In a way, it felt like home already. You hadn’t even made a decision yet, but the way he was envisioning a future here — a future with you — made everything feel possible.